"The Studio That Dripped Blood" – that was the nickname given to Hammer Films, the British movie company which rekindled interest in classic monsters like Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Mummy. Beginning in the late 1950's and all through the sixties and seventies, Hammer Films modernized the horror genre with its use of Technicolor, grisly special effects, and more overt sexual overtones. The two actor most identified with Hammer Studios are Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.
But what is the connection between Frankenstein and Star Wars? Lee and Cushing appeared in many Hammer films together. Peter Cushing played Van Helsing to Chris Lee's "Vampire Count" in Horror of Dracula. Cushing was Dr. Frankenstein bringing life to the creature portrayed by Lee in Curse of Frankenstein. Various sequals, plus The Mummy, The Skull, and The Gorgon also teamed the two actors.
Star Wars came out just around the time Hammer Films was winding down. While Hammer's special effects were considered excellent for the fifties and sixties, George Lucas was now revolutionizing movie effects to a new level. Films would never be the same. Fans of Hammer Studios were pleased and thrilled to see that Lucas cast the great Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin in the first Star Wars movie (1977). This is the character who orders the destruction of Princess Leia's home planet. He later perishes during count-down when the Death Star explodes.
As Cushing helped "ring in" the Star Wars series, so his ex-partner Christopher Lee appeared in the series final two episodes, as Count Dooku. One remembers the spectacular fight scene between Yota and Dooku in Star Wars/Attack of the Clones.
There is a third actor in this category – David Prowse, who appeared as the monstrous creation of Dr. Frankenstein in two Hammer features, looking quite different each time. Prowse is now also receiving much deserved publicity for his recurring role as Darth Vader.
Hammer Film's Horror of Frankenstein, released in 1970, featuring Ralph Bates as Dr. Frankenstein (the only Hammer Frankenstein film in which Peter Cushing did not play that role) and David Prowse as the monster. Except for a few stitches, Prowse did not look too monstrous, just really big and powerful. Then, in 1973, came Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell. Peter Cushing returned as the Doctor and Prowse, as the monster, was quite hideous – a beastly, fur-covered hulk with an inhuman face. On his website, Mr. Prowse says that Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell was, "One of my favourite films and one in which I gave one of my best acting performances."
In a recent interview in Rolling Stone Magazine, David Prowse said that when George Lucas was casting Star Wars, he gave Prowse a choice of two roles: Either Chewbacca or Darth Vader. Prowse says he is really glad he chose Vader, who has turned out to be the focal point of the entire series. Up until recently, there were probably more people who knew that James Earle Jones did the voice of Darth Vader, but David Prowse is now being recognized as the formidable presence of the fallen Jedi we see on the screen.
Thus did the new wave of digital action filmmakers embrace and honor those veteran entertainers who inspired them.
For another Frankenstein article, click on http://searchwarp.com/swa4298.htm
Bill Ectric’s two books, Time Adjusters and Space Savers, contain short stories that blend the genres of mystery, humor, horror, science fiction, satire, and psychological drama.
On the web, Bill’s work has appeared on SearchWarp, Literary Kicks, Dogmatika, MysteryIsland, Syntax of Things, Empty Mirror Books, Lit Up Magazine, and Zygote In My Coffee.
He lives with his wife in Jacksonville, Florida. By day, when not writing, Bill mows the lawn and complains about the heat. By night, he sneaks around in the back yard, convinced that the garden gnomes are “up to something.”
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